Mop cleaner



June 34, 1941, E, vwl'r'r Mozl CLEANER Filedmarch 9, 1940 2 sheets-sheer 2 Patented June 3, 1941 MoPoLEANER Edward Witt, Evanston, lll.

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a mop cleaner and Vmore particularly to a cleaner for removing the dust collected by dust mops.

One obj ect of the invention is to provide a simple structure in which dust may be eiliciently removed from the mop without scattering or distributing the dust throughout the vicinity of the` cleaning operation. Another object is to provide in a mop cleaner a gentle beating action for removing dust. A further object is to produce flexible resilient beating blades for removing the dust without injuring the mop. Yet another object is to provide a supporting structure for the blades whereby a proper resiliency is obtained for .the gentle beating action desired. Still an- Appiication' Mai-,ch s, 1940, serial No. 323,175

scribed and shown herein, a. casing IB may be constructed of a number of panels lI, l2, I3 and I4 to form a container of any lsui-table size and other object is to produce a, motor-operated mopcleaner. Other objects land Iadi'lantages Will appear from the following specication and drawings, in which- Y f Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the cleaner; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 and showing the cleaner with the top panel removed; Figi is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary detail view, partly in section, showing the guide-members which receive the mop; Fig. 6 is a plah View, partly broken away, of one of the beating blades; and Fig. '7 is a view along theline I--l of Fig. 6.

One of the chief difficulties in a construction of a dust mop cleaner lies in attempting to provide eliicient means for removing the dus't from the mop without injuring the same. tures have heretofore been provided in which movable flaps or blades within a closed casing serve to strike the mop and remove the dust therefrom. However, in such structures the action of the blades or naps has been extremely harmful to the mop. In the case of mops provided with cotton strands or fabric such cleaners have been entirely useless, since the mop would withstand only one or two cleaning operations.

On the other hand, structures in which the mopy is pl'aced within a casing and shaken are unsatisfactory because the mop is not properly cleaned. 1n my improved structure a dust mop may be cleaned by placing it in the casing and subject.- ing it -to vthe gentle beating action of resilient blades. `Such action efficiently removes the dust from the mop without injury to the fabric thereof. At the same time a. casing is provided which prevents the scattering or distribution of the dust throughout the vicinity of the cleaning operation.

In the specic embodiment of my invention de-` Strucshape. As shown, the casing is substantially. rectangular. If desired, -the casing may be.

equipped with legs I5 which may be mounted on rollers I6. A door I1, mounted on the casing I0 by means of hinges I8 and I9, may be providedl in the Alower portion of.the casing in order to permit Ithe removal of dust therefrom. The door Il may be provided with a handle 20.

The top panel of the casing I0 may be provided with an opening 22, preferably at one side of the panel. A pair of doors 23`and 24 may be hingedly mounted on the panel 2l and Varranged to close `the opening 22. One of the doors 23 may be equipped with a strip or beading 25 extending along the edge of the door 23 and covering thel adjacent edgeof the door 24. The doors 23 and 24 are so constructed as to provide an aperture 26 in the center thereof,` whereby the handle of a mop may project through the doors when the mop is received within the opening 22.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, a shaft 21 may be rotatably mounted in the bearings 28 and 29 carried by the casing I0. The shaft 21 in turn carries three flexible resilient blades 30, 3l and 32, which are xedly secured to the shaft.

A horizontal panel 33 separates the casing into upper and lower compartments. At one side of the casing the panel is provided with an elongated opening 56, through which dust may pass from the upper to the lower compartment.

A pair of rigid guide rods 34 and 35 extend ldownwardly from the toppanel 2l of the casing II) to the bottom oi the lower compartment, terminating in laterally extending straps which are mounted on the panel 33. 'I'he upper portions of the rods 34 and 35 preferably extend inwardly and downwardly in order' to provide a sloping surface to engage the mop upon its introduction to the casing. Spaced away from the rods 34 and 35 towards the center of the upper compartment are a. pair of yieldable guide wires 3G and 31, the upper e'nds of which are also secured to the top panel 2|. Springs 38 are at- .rbached to the lower ends of the guide wires 36V and 31 in order to permit substantial yieldability in said wires. The springs 38 may be secured to said panel 33 by a threaded rod 39 and nut 40 or other suitable adjustable means.

The guide rods '34 and 35 and wires 36 and 31 form a pocket for receiving thel mop, the mop being engaged on opposite sides by the rods and wires. Thus as seen particularly in Fig. 4, when cloth or other suitable formed of rubber.

' slliency of the blade the mop 4| is received within the casing l0, the guide rods and guide Wires serve to maintain it in a substantially fixed position. The handle 42 of the mop is permitted to project from the aperture 26 formedV by the closed doors 23 and 24.Y

'Ihe panel 33 also supports a collar 51, preferably made of metal, to which is attached a dust bag 43. The dust bag 43 may be composed of soft material to which dust particles will cling.

On one end of the shaft 21 is mounted a pulley 44 which is engaged by the belt 45 connected to the pulley 46 on the motor 41. By means of this pulley structure, it is possible to rotate the shaft 21 and blades 30, 3| and 32 by means of the operation of the motor 41'. The motor and pulley structure may be separated from the dust compartments by a vertical partition 58 provided with a. small aperture through which the shaft 21 passes.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, the flexible blades 30, 3| and 32, being of the same construction, are illustrated by the detail views of the blade 30.

'I'he blade 30 is xedly attached to the shaft 21 by means of the clamp 48, which extends around the shaft and is provided with ends 4i! and 50 which may be bolted together through the rubber iiap 5|, as shown. The clamp 48 may be of metal or other rigid material, while the flap 5|, being flexible and resilient, is preferably 'I'he flap 5| is preferably made of a suilciently soft rubber that it may be readily 'distorted under pressure and readily yields when brought into engagementwith the mop.

In order to provide sufficient sturdiness for the beating blade 30, the rubber flap 5| may be supported with suitable spring steel supports 52 Aand 53, which may, if desired, be placed on the and secured in position by the end 49 of the clamp 48. The supports should be resilient and somewhat yieldable so that the reis not destroyed, and may, if desired, be further securedto the flap 5| by staples 54 and 55.

The blades 30, 3| and 32 may be of any suitable rubber flap 5| -size or shape and preferably extend from the shaft 21 a sufncient distance to permit the ends of the blades to pass between the exible guide wires 36 and 31 and engage the mop held in the pocket formed by the guide wires and the guide rods. In other words, the blades are preferably of a greater length than the distance between the shaft 21 and the adjacent guide wires 36 and 31.

The supporting members 52 and I3' preferably do not extend to the ends of the blades, but' terminate' adjacent the ends thereof. The supporting members.52 and 53 the sides of the blades opposite to lthose which come in contact with the mop 4I. Thus the metal supporting members are at no time brought into engagement with the mop 4|.

Similarly, the staples 54 and 65 are attached to the rubber flap 5|v at a point adjacent the end of the flap, but spaced a sufiicient distance from the end of the flap so that the staples 54 and 5i do not pass between the guide 36- and 31. In other words, the staples 54 and 55 are spaced away from the shaft 21 a distance less than the distance between the shaft and the guide wires 36 and 31.

lThe blades 30, 3| and 32 are .preferably mounted at angles of 120 with respect to each other.

arealso mounted on 2,244,439 In this manner, only one of the blades is brought into engagement with the mop at any one time. The blades are successively brought into engagement with the mop at slightly spaced intervals of time.

In operation, the dust mop is placed in the casing I0 through the opening 22. The doors 23 and 24 are closed to provide a substantially air-tight chamber for the mop, with the handle 42 projecting outwardly through the `aperture 26. 'I'he body of the mop is received within the pocket formed by the' 'guide wires 36 and 31 and guide rods 34 and 35, with the frame of the mop extending in a substantially vertical frame. 'I'he yieldability'of the guide wires 36 and 31 permits a small amount of movement within the pocket so formed.

When the motor is set in operation, the movement of the belt on the pulleys 46 and 44 serves to rotate the shaft 21. The rotation of the shaft 21 in turn causes the rotation of the blades 30, 3| and 32, which are successively brought into engagement with the frame of the mop 4|.

Because of the flexible resilient structure of the blades, the engagement of the same with the frame of the mop produces only a gentle shaking or beating action, by means of which the dust is readilyand efficiently removed from the mop. Upon removal from the mop the dust falls into the dust container, whence it may be removed from the casing I0 through the|door I1.

If the mop is provided with fabric strands on both sides of the frame, it may be removed from the casing after being subjected to the beating action, turned around, and again inserted into the casing, this time with the opposite side of the frame adjacent the blades 30, 3|, 32. 'Ihe motor may then be started and the device operated to complete the cleaning of the mop.

While there are shownand described certain embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mop cleaner of the character described comprising a casing provided with an opening for receiving a mop, means for substantially closing said opening when said mop has beenL received within said casing, spaced guide members within said casing forming a pocket for receiving said mop and retaining .the same in a substantially fixed position within said casing, the guide members on one side of said mop being yieldable and adjustable, a rotatable shaft mounted within.said casing outside said pocket but adjacent said flexible blades carried by said shaft and extending therefrom a distance greater than the distance between said shaft and said adjacent guide members, whereby upon rotation of said shaft the ends of said blades pass into said pocket adjacent said guide members to engage said mop, said blades being equipped with resilient Vspring steel supports attached to Vsaid shaft and extending therefrom a distance less thanthe dis'- tance between said shaft and said adjacent guide members, a motor for rotating said shaft to bring said blades into engagement with said mop, removing the dust therefrom, and a container within said casing for receiving the dust removed from said mop.

guide members, a plurality of extending therefrom,- one side i118 said opening 2. A mop cleaner -of the character described comprising a casing provided with an opening for receiving a mop, a door in said casing for substantially closing said opening, a rotatable shaft mounted in said casing. t least one flexible resilient blade carried by said shaft and so arranged that one side of said bl-ade may be brought into engagement with the mop in the casing, a resilient reinforcing member mounted on said shaft, and secured to the other side of said blade, said member extending from said shaft a lesser distance than Isaid blade, and means for rotating said shaft.

3. A mop cleaner of the character described comprising a casing provided with an opening for receiving a mop, a door in said casing for substantially closing said opening, a rotatable shaft mounted in said casing, at least one nat, flexible, resilient blade carried by said shaft and of said blade being adapted to' be brought into engagement with the mop and casing' upon rotation of the shaft, a resilient reinforcing member mounted on said shaft and secured to said blade, said member being narrower and shorter than said blade whereby the blade extends beyond the ends and sides of the member to prevent engagement of the member with said mop, and means for rotating said shaft.

4. A mop' cleaner comprising for receiving `a mop, a door in said casing forV substantially closing said opening, a rotatable shaft mounted in said casing, a plurality of flat. flexible, resilient blades carried by said shaft and extending therefrom, said blades being sov arranged that one side of each is adapted to be brought into engagement with 'said mop upon of the character described ythe rotation of said shaft, a at resilient reinforcing member secured to said shaft andextending therefrom, to the other side of said blade and covered thereby, and means for rotating said shaft.

5. A mop cleaner of the character ldescribed comprising a casing provided with an opening for receiving a mop, means ing said opening when said mop has been received within said casing, spaced guide members within said casing forming `a pocket for receiving said mop and retaining the same in a substantially fixed position within said casing, the guide members on one side of said mop being yieldable, at least one flexible blade movably mounted within said casing, and means for moving said blade to bring the same into engagement with said mop within said casing;

6. A' mop cleaner of the character described comprising a casing provided with an for receiving a' mop, means for submtially closwhen said mop has been received within said casing, spaced guide members within said casing forming a pocket for receiving said mop and retaining the same in a suba casing provided with an opening4 said member being attached opening stantially fixed position for substantially closst'antially fixed position within said casing, the guide members on one side of said mop being yieldable, a rotatable shaft mounted within said casing for uni-directional movement therein, said shaft being outside said pocket but adjacent said guide members, at least one flexible, resilient blade carried by said shaft and extending therefrom a greater distance than the distancebetween said shaft and said adjacent guide members, whereby upon rotation of the shaft the end of the blade passes into said pocket adjacent said guide members, and one side of said blade engages said mop, a resilient vreinforcing member mounted on said shaft and secured to saidv blade on the other side thereof, and means for rotating said shaft in one direction.

7. A mop cleaner of the character described comprising a casing provided with an opening for receiving a mop, means for substantially closing said opening when said mop has been received'within said casing, spaced guide members within said casing forming a pocket, for receiving said mop and retaining the same in a subwithin said casing, the guide members on one side of said mop being yieldable, a rotatable shaft mounted withinsaid casing for uni-directional movement therein,

said shaft being outsider said pocket but adjacent said guide members, a plurality Yof flexible blades carried by said shaft and extending therefrom a distance greater than the distance between said shaft andsaid adjacent guide members, whereby upon rotation of the shaft the ends of the blades pass into said pocket adjacent the guide members and one side of each e resilient spring of the blades engages said mop, steel supports attached to said shaft and extending therefrom a dist'ance less than that of said blades, said supports being attached to the other sides of said blades and being narrower and shorter than the blades, whereby the blades ex tend beyond the ends and sides of the silPPOrts to-prevent engagement of the supports with the mop. v

8. A mop cleaner of the character described comprising a casing provided with an opening for receiving a mop, said opening when said mop has been received within the casing, guide members in said casing for engaging the mop therein, a rotatable shaft mountedjn said casing, at least one exible blade carried by said shaft and extending therefrom a sulcient distance to engage the mop with one side of the blade in the cycle of rotation, a resilient reinforcing member mounted on said shaft, means for securing said reinforcing member to the other side of said blade, said last mentioned means being spaced from said shaft a distance less than the distance between said shaft and said guide members, and means for rotating said shaft. l EIBWARD WI'I'I.

-means for substantially closing 

